Flooded water wells pose health risk; precautions urged

The Minnesota Department of Health is advising owners of private water wells to take precautions against flood water contamination.

Private water wells contaminated with flood water can pose a health risk, prompting the agency to urge homeowners to protect their wells from flooding, and if too late, take corrective actions.

If flood waters cover the top of the water well, do not use the water for drinking or cooking until the floodwater recedes and the well is disinfected and tested. Until then, use bottled water for drinking, cooking, or brushing your teeth.

Even if flood water came within 50 feet of your well, homeowners may still want to have their water tested as a precaution.

Once the water recedes from a flooded well, homeowners should prepare to have their wells disinfected and tested. Installing a water-tight cap or securing a plastic covering won't eliminate the need for disinfection and testing, but it will help keep debris and sediment out of the well, and make the post-flood clean-up go more smoothly.

Meanwhile, reports of sewage spills into rivers and lakes near St. Paul should not have an impact on city water, said Jim Bode, water quality supervisor with Saint Paul Regional Water Services.

"We're not aware of any sewage spills in our reservoir system. We're going to continue to just do our normal treatment which would remove any bacteria from the water anyway. We're in good shape," Bode said.